Tour Day 15: Meet Virginia

Sep 09, 2009 20:34

You guys, I am so tired. What's crazy is that I've been managing decent sleep here in Washington, DC--especially compared to what I was getting when this tour started two weeks ago. Yet, for whatever reason, I've just been so exhausted when I get back to my hotel these last couple nights that it's all I can do to post these before heading to bed. So, let's do our recap.

Today was pretty quiet for the most part. It was raining, so I ordered all my food in from the hotel and simply stayed in my room working. People keep telling me all sorts of fun things to go see around here, but even when not signing, I've had other things that need doing. I've handled that quite contently--though I did have a moment of weakness tonight on the way to the signing when we passed through Georgetown. Holy shopping, Batman. I just kept thinking I could have been at Betsey or Urban Outfitters instead of in PJs (at 1pm) at my laptop. It's all good, though. I can go to those stores anywhere...but still. I had a wistful moment.

So, that was my day, and it was good and productive. When evening rolled around, it was time to suit up and head out to my signing, held this time at the Borders in Fairfax, VA. (For my international readers, VA in this context = Virginia, not Vampire Academy). I saw a young lady wearing this t-shirt as soon as I stepped up to the microphone, and I had a hard time keeping a straight face through my reading. It's fantastic and now makes me want to write a Diversity Club into the next book.



Here's the back, and I'm actually a little puzzled because at first glance, I thought, "Oh, she's a Dorian fan." But now, looking at it more closely, I can't tell if Dorian is crossed out or if that's a design.



I've always felt a little guilty about posting homemade t-shirts on here because I worry about setting up an expectation. Now, it seems to be going to a new level because I think I'm encouraging people to dress up their adorable children:



What's awesome here is that while she's the focus of these pictures (as well she should be), I'm apparently trying to steal the scene from her each time. How self-centered is that? I'm totally trying to monopolize that camera while she so patiently models her shirt for us.



And since it didn't show so well in the last one, here's a close-up of the back of her shirt. She was a real sweetie and very good about helping us pose her for photos.



All in all, another good signing with another great turnout. And, what's especially important: we had a really great staff at the store running everything. Emily there in the red handed out my Richelle Mead Color-Changing Pencils and did the best sales pitches for them I've ever seen. She even held them while I was signing so that they would be prepped and already turning colors when the reader was ready to leave and get one.



Thanks, everyone! We had lots of locals, and the outliers tonight came from Pittsburgh and West Virginia. That last group has got "Take Me Home, Country Roads" stuck in my head--though it's warring with "I'm Shipping Up to Boston" by the Dropkick Murphys since I shall indeed be heading up to Boston tomorrow. My signing there is at the Burlington Barnes and Noble at 7pm. Details on my website.

And in a few bits of housekeeping, today was list day and Blood Promise is still holding its own. It's at #22 on the USA Today list and #3 on the New York Times series list (fyi - when you have 3 or more books in children's/YA, they boot you off the single title list and onto the series list, so technically "the VA series" is what's #3, but BP drove the sales). So, thank you so much for all of you out there helping the series! I really appreciate it.

Finally, Melbourne folks: make sure you read my previous post about a chance to see me if you didn't get a booking. The rest of you can also find info about the latest Bitten By Books poll.

Okay, off to bed!

narcissism, blood promise tour

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